The NBA's next Yao Ming, Yi Jianlian, has received permission (http://english.sina.com/sports/1/2006/1103/93665.html) from his club to enter the 2007 NBA draft.

Yi led his team, Guangdong Tigers, to three straight national championships.

The little fellow is 2.1 meters (6'11") and was recruited when he was 19 years old.

The player still needs the approval of the Chinese Basketball Association and an exemption to a CBA rule that does not allow players to be drafted if they are under 22.Yi is just 20.

NBA teams, of course, are drooling. Whether this boy is as good as Yao Ming, is not a real issue.

Another Chinese player on any NBA team means more Chinese will buy tickets and the popularity of the NBA in China will continue to grow = big bucks (http://www.srch-results.com/lm/rtl3.asp?si=77&k=big%20bucks).